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The Washington Redskins’ team name has generated its fair share of controversy, but owner Daniel Snyder always has made his stance on the issue very clear.

Snyder recently spoke with former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, who now co-hosts ESPN 980’s radio show “The Drive,” and as you might expect, the owner had nothing but positive things to say about his team’s polarizing mascot.

Synder also urged those who view the team name as racist to consider its historical origins, as he claimed that a Native American chief named Walter “Blackie” Wetzel had a role in designing the logo in 1971.

“He was the president of NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) and a Montana tribe called Blackfeet Nation at the time, and he said, ‘Hey, I want to create a logo for the team, because we really think it should represent us,’ ” Snyder said. “And he went back to Montana and helped create that logo that we all love.”

Not everyone would agree with the last part of Snyder’s remarks, including former Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey, who equated the team’s name to using the “n-word.”

Snyder might have to worry about more than just the opinions of his former employees. The U.S. Patent Office reached a landmark decision in June to cancel the nickname’s trademark, and the name also has received fierce opposition from the U.S. Senate.

Ill Add a Comment If the Washington Redskins have to change their name and Logo then I feel about 3/4 of the NFL teams will have to do the same. When they were in Boston they were the Boston Braves same as the Baseball team that went to Atlanta. They were my father's favorite football team since he was from Rhode Island. My Father is Full Blooded Native American Indian Mohawk ,Micmac and Lakota. When they came to Washington DC in 1956 They were changed to the Washington Redskins. It made my father so happy that they came to the place that he was moved to WE lived in Silver Spring MD. HE got to see them win the Superbowl before he died in 1964. As A Native American Indian I am very Proud of the Name of the Washington Redskins TO me it is a Honor, Proudness and Respectful. Back then no one complained. Now it seems that it is the Native American Indian Wannabees that seems to want the name changed. I am myself now a Lakota Medicine man. I know almost every Native Chief and Medicine men around the Nation and none of them see anything wrong with the Washington Redskin Name. SO who are these people that wants the name changed. ??? Show yourselves I want to know??? Because you are to a fake. Someone who wants to make troubler. You already had the Washington Bullets change their name to the Wizards when you know nothing about the history of The Baltimore Bullets or even Bullet . Learn your history first before wanting to change names if that is the case then The Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Ta
mpa Bay Buccaneers, NY Giants, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49s, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, And any team with animal names as well will all have to change their name and LOGO. Then to me those all are A insult to us Real Native American Indians taking the names of our Spirit animals . SO you see if The Redskins have to change their name then so does the rest Of The NFL teams. If one has to change then ALL HAS TO CHANGE NAMES.